Conveyor and reflow device using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveyer comprising: a pair of conveyer belts movable in the direction of transportation of an article by rollers; and a pair of article-supporting belts for supporting an article, the article-supporting belts being positioned between and interlocked with the conveyer belts, wherein upper portions of the conveyer belts are positioned above the article-supporting belts.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A conveyer comprising: 
       a pair of conveyer belts movable in a direction of transportation of an article by rollers; and  
       a pair of article-supporting belts for supporting said article, said article-supporting belts being positioned between and interlocked with said conveyer belts,  
       wherein upper portions of said conveyer belts are positioned above upper portions of said article-supporting belts,  
       wherein said article-supporting belts have a dimension smaller than that of said conveyer belts.  
     
     
       2. A conveyer according to claim  1 , wherein said article-supporting belts are attached to holder pins projecting from joints of said conveyer belts. 
     
     
       3. A conveyer according to claim  1 , wherein said conveyer belts are chain belts, and said article-supporting belts are chain belts. 
     
     
       4. A conveyer according to claim  1 , wherein said article-supporting belts are synchronously movable with said conveyer belts. 
     
     
       5. A conveyer according to claim  1 , further comprising: 
       a first frame which is horizontally movable, one of the pairs of said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts being supported by said first frame;  
       a second frame which is vertically movable, all said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts being supported by said second frame; and  
       a third frame which is fixed and supports the pairs of said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts not supported by said first frame,  
       wherein said first frame and said third frame are mounted on said second frame,  
       wherein said first frame is moved to adjust the interval between outer portions of said article-supporting belts and inner portions of said conveyer belts, and  
       wherein said second frame is moved to adjust the heights of said article-supporting belts and said conveyer belts.  
     
     
       6. A conveyer according to claim  1 , wherein said conveyer is for conveying a printed circuit board or a lead frame. 
     
     
       7. A conveyer according to claim  1 , wherein said dimension comprises a width dimension. 
     
     
       8. A conveyer according to claim  5 , further comprising: 
       side walls for containing said article on said article-supporting belts.  
     
     
       9. A conveyer according to claim  5 , wherein said interval between said outer portions of said article-supporting belts and said inner portions of said conveyer belts, and the heights of said article-supporting belts and said conveyer belts are adjusted based on a characteristic of said article. 
     
     
       10. A reflow device comprising: 
       a pair of conveyer belts movable in a direction of transportation of an article by rollers; and  
       a pair of article-supporting belts for supporting said article, said article-supporting belts being positioned between and interlocked with said conveyor belts,  
       wherein upper portions of said conveyer belts are positioned above upper portions of said article-supporting belts,  
       wherein said article-supporting belts have a dimension smaller than that of said conveyer belts.  
     
     
       11. A reflow device according to claim  10 , wherein said article-supporting |belts are attached to holder pins projecting from joints of said conveyer belts. 
     
     
       12. A reflow device according to claim  10 , wherein said conveyer belts are chain belts, and said article-supporting belts are chain belts. 
     
     
       13. A reflow device according to claim  10 , further comprising: 
       a first frame which is horizontally movable, one of the pairs of said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts being supported by said first frame;  
       a second frame which is vertically movable, all said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts being supported by said second frame; and  
       a third frame which is fixed and supports the pairs of said conveyer belts and said article-supporting belts not supported by said first frame,  
       wherein said first frame and said third frame are mounted on said second frame,  
       wherein said first frame is moved to adjust the interval between outer portions of said article-supporting belts and inner portions of said conveyer belts, and  
       wherein said second frame is moved to adjust the heights of said article-supporting belts and said conveyer belts.  
     
     
       14. A reflow device according to claim  13 , further comprising: 
       side walls for containing said article on said article supporting belts.  
     
     
       15. A reflow device according to claim  13 , wherein said interval between said outer portions of said article-supporting belts and said inner portions of said conveyer belts, and the heights of said article-supporting belts and said conveyer belts are adjusted based on a characteristic of said article. 
     
     
       16. A reflow device according to claim  10 , wherein said article-supporting belts are synchronously movable with said conveyer belts. 
     
     
       17. A reflow device according to claim  10 , wherein said reflow device is for conveying a printed circuit board or a lead frame. 
     
     
       18. A reflow device according to claim  10 , wherein said dimension comprises a width dimension.